Tea-infused gin, tonic water, and fresh orange juice make this Earl Gray Gin and Tonic extra special. You’ll want to invite the Tipsy Earl to your next party for SURE!
Y’all, I am obsessed with Earl Gray tea right now. I feel like this citrusy, flowery-tasting black tea doesn’t get nearly the love it deserves, and it really shines in this Earl Gray Gin and Tonic!
Earl Gray is black tea flavored with bergamot. If you’re not familiar with bergamot, it’s just a type of orange. It’s what gives Earl Gray its distinct flavor.
More Gin Drinks: Lemon Meringue Gin Flip, Gin & Cucumber Summer Cooler
Making the Earl Gray Gin
Earl Gray Gin is the key to this drink. It’s very easy to make, but it does take some planning, because it has to steep.
To make the gin, just combine gin, a bag of tea, and a touch of sugar in a mason jar. Give it a shake, and let it steep for four to six hours.
I know, that’s a long time, but it’s so worth it! You can double or triple this recipe, if you want to keep this gin on hand. I’d store the steeped gin in the fridge or freezer.
Also! Since you’re going to shake the jar with the tea bag in it, and not all tea bags are the same, there’s a chance that bag will break. Don’t worry if that happens! Leave the gin to steep, then just pour it through a strainer to get the tea leaves out before mixing up your drinks.
Making the Cocktail
Once you finish steeping, mixing up your Earl Gray Gin and Tonic couldn’t be simpler.
Just combine the gin in a rocks glass with a splash of tonic water. Squeeze in a little bit of orange juice, and serve on the rocks.
If you want to get fancy, garnish with an orange slice.
No shaking, no straining, just pour, garnish, and sip.
Earl Gray Gin and Tonic: The Tipsy Earl
Ingredients
For the Earl Gray Gin
- 1/2 cup good gin
- 1 bag Earl Gray tea
- 1 tablespoon sugar
For the Tipsy Earl
- 1 1/2 ounces Earl Gray Gin
- 1/4 of a Naval Orange – plus an extra little wedge, for garnish
- tonic water
Instructions
Make the Earl Gray Gin
- Pour the gin into a small mason jar and place the bag in there. Add the sugar, close the lid, and give the jar a good shake to combine. Let it steep for 4-6 hours, then pull out the bag. If your bag broke like mine did from overly-enthusiastic shaking, just strain the infused gin before you use it.
Make a Tipsy Earl
- In a rocks glass full of ice, combine the gin and the juice from 1/4 of your orange. Drop the orange rind in your glass, then top off with the tonic water. Garnish with another little orange wedge, and sip!
Mel
I LOVE this! Gin and Earl Grey tea are both favourites of mine. I can’t wait to try it. Such a brilliant idea Becky!
Becky Striepe
Thank you, Mel! I drink Earl Grey almost every morning, so I can totally relate. It’s so delicious!
Cadry's Kitchen
Wow, I’d never thought of adding tea to a cocktail! The infusion process sounds easy enough. I’ll have to try that! Gin & tonic is my favorite cocktail. For tonic, I like to get the 365 brand from Whole Foods. It’s only $2.99 for a six pack, but it’s made with sugar, not HFCS. I’ve gotten the specialty tonics on occasion, but $7 for 4 bottles is steep!
Becky Striepe
I hear ya! Those fancy sodas are pricey. I have a weakness for expensive ginger ale but only give in once in a while.
cookeasyvegan
It sure is a pretty cocktail. I’m not a big drinker so I depend a lot on tonic and lime at weddings and such. I was stunned when I found out what supermarket tonic contained — it’s full of high-fructose corn syrup, no doubt made from GMO corn. I found a decent brand called Q (https://bit.ly/LhuY3j), and the brand you use looks good, but I’m not sure I’d recommend any of the more standard brands anymore. Things sure were simpler when I knew less.
Becky Striepe
Oh man, I’ve been looking for Q tonic water, but the stores around here don’t seem to stock it! I agree – sometimes I wish I were blissfully ignorant about GMOs. 🙁
acookinthemaking
Oooh fancy! My husband is a big tea drinker, I bet he’d love this!
Becky Striepe
Yay! Enjoy it!